IQM Flagship School Status
Delight as Lowestoft primary set to become a flagship school
A Suffolk primary school has been praised for its "superb" commitment to inclusive education.
Westwood Primary School in Lowestoft, part of the Active Learning Trust, has retained its status as an IQM Centre of Excellence for the third year successive year.
Having been recognised by the Inclusion Quality Mark (IQM) for its approach to supporting all learners and retained its status, the school on Westwood Avenue has now been recommended for IQM Flagship School status, which will involve sharing its inclusive practices with other schools.
Lauraine Barnes, headteacher at Westwood Primary School, said: "We are overjoyed to retain our status as an IQM Centre of Excellence and to be recommended for Flagship School status.
"This recognition endorses the positive culture we work so hard to foster at Westwood.
"Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do, as we believe that every child deserves to feel they belong, are valued, and have the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
"We are very much looking forward to sharing our best practice with other schools."
The IQM is a national and international accreditation that assesses how well schools promote equal opportunities for all pupils regardless of background, age, or special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
An IQM assessor described Westwood’s progress as a “relentless pursuit” of improvement and “moving from strength to strength in terms of its superb inclusive practice.”
Duncan Low, director of education at the Active Learning Trust, said: "Retaining IQM Centre of Excellence status is well deserved recognition of Westwood’s and Grove’s unwavering commitment to inclusion.
"As a Trust, we are incredibly proud to see these schools recognised for their inclusion work."
The trust also announced that another of its Lowestoft-area schools - Grove Primary on Framfield Road, Carlton Colville - has retained its IQM Centre of Excellence status.
The IQM assessor highlighted Grove’s “strong culture of joyful pride” and praised the enthusiasm pupils show in celebrating their achievements.
Mr Low added: "I would like to thank all the staff at both schools for creating environments where every child feels valued and supported."